Heron Hill winemaker Bernard Cannac, shown here during harvest, has seen grapevine leaves in the Keuka Lake winery's vineyards curl slightly due to the recent hot and dry weather, but he does not anticipate major crop damage. Provided photo.

Finger Lakes vineyards have seen little rain in recent days, but the grapevines are not showing signs of serious damage.

“We have had some rain in the last seven days, but not enough to create any impact on the vines,” Cannac says.“Our soil (here) has a lot of clay.Clay expands with water, and the water does not drain well, which means that (it) just sits on the surface.”

Quick rainstorms are not much help since they harden the soil and limit the chance for moisture to reach the vines’ roots.

“It seems that these last few days have been pretty hard for the vines, but I don’t think that it will damage the crop yet,” Cannac says.

Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, Yates County, got a little rain earlier this week, “but nothing like what we’d like to see,” assistant marketing director Andy Marshall says.

“So far the grapes are holding their own. Much longer though, and they will definitely start showing some stress from the lack of rain,” he says.

Lakewood Vineyards in Watkins Glen, Schuyler County, has not had measurable rain in two weeks, but “the enormously wet spring has allowed us some cushion at this point,” says Lakewood co-owner Liz Stamp.

“For now, we are OK.”

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Sheila Livadas is a freelance writer and blogger who counts Finger Lakes Riesling among her many passions. When taking a break from savoring the region’s wines, she grows orchids, practices yoga and reminisces about remarkable meals she’s had, including Welsh rarebit and toast points at the defunct Manhattan Restaurant in Rochester.

With parents that operate their own cooking school, Holly Howell grew up in the ultimate food-loving family. At 18, she spent a year in France where she developed a passion for good wine. “I drank some of the best wines of my life, and didn’t even realize it at the time!” Holly Howell is a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators, and a Certified Sommelier through the Master Court of Sommeliers in England. She also teaches wine and food pairing classes. Holly enjoys skiing, tennis, guitar, piano, gardening, cooking, and even making her own wine (which is getting better with each vintage). She has four adorable cats who also love good food, but have a knack for knocking over full wine glasses.